Elite Rugby Banter

Alex and Ben steer the World Cup ship this week, in two parts! The Rugby World Cup is meandering towards the quarterfinals once more after the busy weekend, but much rugby is discussed. Scotland's thrashing of Samoa, France's hot and heavy defeat of the USA and New Zealand dispatching Canada with all the Barretts are discussed, along with the coming games, including South Africa v Italy, England v Argentina and the big one, New Zealand v Namibia.

Predictive analytics are playing a bigger role in sports, and some South Africans decided to get into the action by designing their own predictive tool that is targeting this year's Rugby World Cup: Ruggerbot.com.

Adam "sat down" with Thomas Davies, of re:source design, the minds behind Ruggerbot.com, to find out how it works.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

What a Rugby World Cup so far! Chris Lee joins Alex, Matt, Ben and Adam as he gives the Irish view of their epic defeat to Japan. The gang also chat about all the other World Cup action, including SA's meh victory over Namibia and Wales win over Australia (including some controversial refereeing!).

To add some brains to this week's pod (Chris excluded), Adam sat down with Thomas Davies of re:source, the masterminds behind Ruggerbot.com, to find out how they went about building their predicative tool. The best part? Referee data was too inconclusive...classic. You'll find this from about 1 h 45 m.

Sorry for the extra long episode. The hope is to rein them in going forward...we hope...

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ben and Adam sprint through the happenings on the field in the Rugby World Cup thus far, noting now Uruguay as it stands have a shot at the quarterfinals, recounting what's like when their high school team faces an opponent they have no right facing, and wondering about the teams only just beginning their campaign. Also, Schalk Brits has been named to play at 8 for the Springboks versus Nambia??

The Phil and Ant Stats Show returns, as the two number maestros dig into the numbers from the All Blacks' and Springboks' epic clash at Yokohama. It's not all doom and gloom for South Africa, but there is work to do!

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Follow Phil on @superbpippo. Ant...not sure he is on Twitter?

The Rugby World Cup is now underway, and Ben, Matt and Adam in chilled-out fashion discuss the week's games, including New Zealand's hard fought but deserved win over South Africa, Australia's good victory over Fiji, Rob Howley's betting habits, the haka and its "status", other World Cup niceties and the usual too-ing and fro-ing. Alex is off in the Eastern Cape somewhere but posting popular tweets apparently?

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Follow Alex via @alexthetarr, Ben at @Ben_from_Tax, and Matt at @Ogre_Ugqwetha.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup is days away in Japan and ERB are here to preview (badly at times, and other times well) the weekend's games, plus Wales and Georgia on Monday. Adam, Ben and Alex kick off the first of ERB World Cup Weekly, which will run through the entire tournament. Today's major focus is dedicated the Springboks' clash against the All Blacks on Saturday.

The Rugby World Cup is just around the corner, and ahead of kick-off, Nicola joins Ant, Matt and Adam to see whether the three of them know the Laws (not Rules!) of Rugby. Ant and Matt pass with flying colours, though rucks appear to confuse the kak out of Adam (this is not surprising). Prior to chatting about the game and its troves, Gareth Thomas' brave admission, SBW's possible not-injury, Adam being pranked and still not getting it, Os du Randt's admission in the Hall of Fame and the Sharks signing everyone is discussed.

On Wednesday, our ERB World Cup Weekly will kick off, to in theory run through out the tournament.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The Rugby World Cup begins in a week...you heard us right, a WEEK! All the squads have been chosen, typhoons (mostly) avoided and 20 nations will be competing for the Webb Ellis Trophy. But, are all the players selected from their country of origin? Do they know the local party song? If, for example, they aren't Scottish, do they even know what haggis is?

This is the subject of Phil and Ant's forced lightning discussion (all will be revealed), as they tackle World Rugby's eligibility rules and the origins of the different World Cup squad.

Also, this should've gone out on Wednesday but Adam cannot be trusted...this is known. Classic ERB.

The Rugby World Cup is but weeks away and Alex, Ben and Adam are here to finish up their previews ahead of the global showpiece in the Land the Rising Son. In classic ERB fashion, there is a foul up when it comes to the New Zealand preview, Adam is willing on the briyani he had for breakfast to deal with the previous night, Ben gets tired playing golf in windy Mauritius, and Alex - serene and pure for most of the pod like driven snow - gets triggered by the name of Frans Steyn and "reserve flyhalf" being mentioned in the same sentence.

Between it all, the gang chat about Steve Hansen telling the Six Nations to suck it, the passing of Springbok great Chester Williams, South Africa squaring their record against Japan and Russia's path to the World Cup. Matt is lost somewhere in Korea.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.